lomid

Hi Renee: I would be happy to answer any questions that I might be able to help you with :) Unfortunately, it has been four years since I have lived in Arizona - so I am uncertain as to what their wage scales are like now - but I am sure you will find that they vary from facility to facility. I frequently visit the employment ads and the hospital websites there, and it appears that they are in the $22 - $26/hour range right now - however, this may very well be for the experienced nurses. Given that you will be a new grad, this may or may not vary - and then again, you will have a BSN, rather than Diploma, so you may have more bargaining power. From my experience, the health care was always a shared cost between employee and employer - again, the proportions vary amongst the facilities. If I recall, I was seeing approximately $75 - $100 bi-weekly taken off my cheque - however, mine was a "family" rate - so, for sure, yours would be less. I believe that 401K's would be the equivalent of our RSP's (I believe there are also many other new ones now) - unfortunately, I know little about them. Depending on where you work, you usually have to be there for a set period of time before you can enroll. As far as moving there - I would have little in the way of negative thoughts to share with you - I absolutely loved it there!! The nursing experience was fantastic - so I would probably be the first to tell you to GO FOR IT . . . I hope that this is helpful to you and if I can be of any further assistance, please don't hesitate to let me know.

I, as well, went straight to the US, following grad (no jobs here) and it was an experience I will be ever grateful for - my orientation and preceptor was just fabulous and I will always credit this person with my ability to quickly acquire confidence in nursing. I agree with you - the level of respect and the "team" approach was just an entirely positive experience there. When I returned to Canada 4 years ago, I felt like I was in a time warp - nothing had changed - I was almost appalled. There is such a severe shortage of nurses and yet, it seems that they make the positions impossible to acquire. What I see as one of the major differences between here and the US is that our system is unwilling to bend - to be innovative. When I worked in the US, they were constantly searching for ways to improve nursing and accomodate nurses - to be flexible and "listen". An example - where I worked, nurses only worked one shift - none of this rotating stuff - I was astonished and inquired about it. A staff member told me that they had done a poll, to determine what nurses wanted and discovered that there were many nurses who only wanted to work evenings or nights (the typical problem ones), and that they would be more than willing to accept this, if it meant not having to rotate. When they added up the numbers, they had their full complement of staff. Not everyone wants to work days. Why couldn't they look at this in Canada? There are many nurses who not only don't want to rotate (it is difficult to adjust), but also can't due to family concerns (hard to find day care / sitters for varied shifts; no spouse). If they are really, really concerned about the nursing shortage - as they keep professing to be - they need to WAKE UP to the times. I am another one who has a hard time having much sympathy - the US treats us better!! Sorry Canada - but it IS your loss (and I Love Canada, too).

I think you will like it - good luck with your plans.

Hi alykat1: I don't know if you have ever considered moving to the Tucson area, but, if so, you might want to check out the TMC website and look around through the educational opportunities area. TMC offers paid education and books to employees (ie: if you were working there as a CNA) who want to move forward and attain their RN degree. Their requirement is that, following completion of the programme, you be committed to the facility for a specified period of time - or, I suppose repayment would be required. I don't know if this is helpful to you or not, but it might be food for thought, anyway. Take care and good luck with your plans.

Hi: I have never worked the ER there, but TMC was my first full-time nursing position. I worked Med-Surg there. I had a very positive nursing experience at TMC. Tucson is beautiful!!

Hi JMP: Don't want to make the bulletin board too long for everyone else - so I will send you a "private message" - please look there. Talk to you soon.

You're most welcome JMP. I am in Manitoba - Winnipeg. With backgrounds in ICU and Dialysis you should have numerous opportunities available to you. I have not worked at UMC, but had several friends who did and they always claimed that it was a wonderful place to work. I worked at TMC and El Dorado Hospital; as a Nurse Manager for a medical rehab facility; and did Case Management duties in Home Care. I thoroughly enjoyed each position that I had and the variety of duties that they encompassed. My last ward position was at El Dorado Hospital and, while the wages were a little lower, the "team" spirit and family feel was outstanding - it was a great place to work. TMC was my "first" nursing position and so, I will always hold it dear to me - they provided me with the best nursing preceptor imaginable - I think she should win an award! At any rate, she made all the difference to my "start" in nursing. This experience, alone, I found to be totally different than anything I ever experienced in Canada. And I am not saying that we don't have great nurses here - we just are short of the resources to provide this kind of "one-on-one" experience to the same degree. I am 48 and still day-dreaming that I will go back to Tucson someday ;0) I miss it so much. I wish you the very best of luck with your plans and a big "congratulations" on your upcoming graduation. And again, if you would like to know anything further, please don't hesitate to let me know. Take Care.

Hi JMP: Just wanted to let you know - I am a Canadian nurse who graduated here and then moved to Tucson to nurse, from 1993 to 2000. I moved back to Canada then, for family reasons and have nursed here since. There is not a day that goes by that I don't miss Tucson - I just loved it there and would return in a heartbeat. The style of living - just everything about it was terrific. The nursing, in general, I found to be wonderful and progressive. I don't know where in Canada you are, but, where I am - not one single thing had changed in the 7 years that I was gone. As far as wages, etc. - well, I find it to be relative - we have unions, but profound taxes. It seemed that the net pay cheque in Tucson was not much different than in Canada - however, rather than tax, you are paying for health care. If you would like any more information, please don't hesitate to contact me.